Monthly Archives: February 2009

I am writing this on my long (7 1/2 hours) train ride home from my visit to Massachusetts to attend the homegoing service for my paternal grandfather. He lived a wonderfully long, full, rich 93 years on this earth, and I feel even more blessed to have had him in my life for this long. I now know that I had a very private, selfish view of my grandfather–he was mine and I had a limited view of the grandness of who he was on this earth. I think it was mainly because I came into his life when he was an older man. I was not a witness to his larger life in the church and in the community. During his funeral when I caught a glimpse of the seemingly never-ending line of mourners who came to pay their respects, my eyes became open to the fact that he was even more wonderful a man than I had imagined.

His service was held in the sanctuary of the church that he loved and served for more than 50 years of his life through ten different pastors and many triumphs, trials and tribulations. As all of the beautiful words were spoken over his body, the feeling welled up within me that I had not known this man as they had, but I knew him in a special way that they knew not of–as my own grandpa. I remember the sparkling eyes, the crackling laughter that made hid belly shake and tears come to the corners of his eyes. The smell of tobacco mingled with old leather that emanated from him as he sat in his big chair and spoke with a pipe clenched between his teeth. I’d always get beard burn on my face when I kissed his stubbly cheek and got caught in one of his bear hugs.

Grandpa always seemed fascinated by how quickly were were growing up. On the door frame in the dining room he would keep track of our growth. When we visited, we would be required to stand against the wall and he would squint one eye and with a pen held to the top of our heads and a quick check to make sure that we weren’t on tippy toes, he would mark our new height on wall. He always seemed amazed at this evidence of time passing and it became a fun ritual.

My grandpa was a warm, smart, funny man who was a joy to be around. His tremendous faith was as a mantle about him and yet, he still had an infectious sense of humour and a very quick (and sometimes naughty) wit. At his homegoing service, my cousin Lois, who is of my dad’s generation, told of his love for offering very thorough, long-winded blessings over the food at family gatherings. Grandpa Joe could pray as if his prayers could bring Jesus back. at the time we would stand impatiently shifting our weight, hands growing a bit sweaty from holding your neighbors hands. You could sense the food getting cold and despite grandma’s not-too-subtle throat clearing, grandpa would pray on. Now when I look back on having had the honor of having been prayed over by such a man, I pray that the power of his prayers will yet linger in my life now that he is no longer with us. I pray that the blessing of having enjoyed so many years in his presence would serve as a healing and protective balm that will cover me and fortify me for what is to come in my life.

When we stood around his casket in that bright, cold morning sunshine at his burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery, I knew that he was not gone from us. He decided that it was time to lay his body down and to take his place in the arms of Jesus in heaven with the saints and all of those who have fallen asleep in Christ. I patted the shiny mahogany casket as we turned to leave so that they could tuck him into the ground for his body’s eternal rest. He loved good and well and was loved by many. What other accomplishment in life really matters?

And so I say, Godspeed, Grandpa Joe. You will always be in my heart as my beloved grandpa and a shining example of all that I ever hope to be.

One of my favorite Bible verses about giving is this one found in Luke 6:38:
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

They used to sing a song based on this verse in the church I used to attend at offering time. It got people motivated to open up their wallets and give more at the prospect of it triggering an even greater blessing in return. But I believe that this scripture does not only apply to giving money. I believe that it can apply to anything that we give including love, attention, time, energy (positive or negative). It’s that now famous but old as time law of attraction at work once again.

Given where we are in this place in the global economic cycle, there seems to be a prevading spirit of lack, of hard times, belt-tightening, etc. Those of us who know better understand that we will simply get more of what we’re focusing on, so this spirit of ‘not enough’ perpetuates itself ad nauseum.

So, I ask, what will you give to make your situation more of what you’d like it to be? What do you want to see overflowing into your life? Whatever that is–more love, more peace, more cash–then that is what you need to give. Your actions, your energy and your words are like seeds. Sown in good soil, they will return a hundred or even a thousand fold for your labors.

All of this is easier said than done, believe me, I know. I struggle myself with the temptation to give in to the feelings of dread when I hear about the latest round of layoffs, and the fact that we have not yet ‘hit bottom’ in this downwards cycle. So, I find myself looking for some positive things to focus on. This morning in the shower I was reflecting on all of the wonderful things in my life that are free like the love I have for my children, my friends, using my talents and skills. I have even turned this into a kind of game that I play with myself. Whenever I am about to get sucked down into negativity, I try to catch myself and ask, “What’s good about it?” Sounds goofy, I know, but it works for me. It interrupts a destructive pattern and helps me to look at life from a more ppwerful, resourceful place.

Prayers and affirmations also help to maintain a positive vibe. Here’s a Prosperity Prayer that I found that helps to keep me grounded and remember that my faith will always move my vision forward. My prayer for you is that you would be blessed beyond measure and that you would keep this old adage in mind: “Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind the stronger the trees.” As the wind blows in your life know that things happen for us not to us, and that the only meaning a given circumstance holds is the one we give to it.